In case you didn’t know, I grew up in Washington DC.  Not the metro area, but Southeast DC. The hood if you want to really know.

I loved every minute of it.

As a child growing up in DC there were a few constants:

• A half smoke with chili and cheese was a must have
• Rock Creek Peach Soda and Utz  Crab Potato Chips went together like ham and cheese
• Chicken Wings and Mumbo Sauce is a gourmet meal
• Sundays were for the Redskins
• And Chuck Brown was Go Go

Now, if you don’t know what Go Go is, I’ll direct you here and  here.

To put it simply, go go and Chuck Brown was and has always been, the beat of my city, the soundtrack of my childhood.

My parents weren’t from DC, so it wasn’t like I would hear it in the house. Or even on the radio at that time.

Go Go music just was.

I don’t remember where I first heard it. But I know that the first “song” I ever became aware of, the first one I could do every beat, every “huh”, every word to was a Chuck Brown one. In fact, as I think on it, I know it was “Go Go Swing”.

It was everywhere, from open car windows in the summertime to start up bands in the alley behind my house ( that would be Junkyard Band ).

It was a beat, a rhythm, it was soo….DC.

Every cookout, every house party, every club…..

There is was.

It’s a groove that starts in your hips and moves up your spine until you are helplessly bobbing your head and moving.

Chuck Brown respresented all of this.

I can’t remember life without Chuck Brown.

“It don’t mean a thing, if you don’t got that Go Go Swing. Go doo wah, doo wah doo wah  doo wah ……”

Sigh.

RIP Chuck.

So, I rarely RARELY get to be in photos with my boy. But I set the settings and handed over my camera to C-Dub this weekend and I got a photo with my boy! It’s not perfect, but I got a photo! And I will be printing it out! LOL

Pookah had a GREAT time with the in laws in Mississippi this weekend.

He had three adoring uncles and one cousin to play with, so he was in heaven.

I harely ever had to worry about where he was, because someone had him.

On Sunday evening, they all played football.  It was sooooo funny. I loved it. Of course I had my camera.  Of course I took photos.

Here are a few.

How was your mother’s day?

Mine was crap.

And I hate to use that strong of a word but…

There you have it.

So, I woke up( at my mother in law’s house still).  At 6 am no less.

But the house was quiet. I took a few minutes to check my email, twitter, facebook. You know, all the important things before everyone wakes up.

Pookah woke up about an hour later and said:

“I lub you mommy.”

Awwwwwww! My heart just melted. Perfect start to a mother’s day!

Now, I know that I’m at my mother in laws house and everything, but I expected SOMETHING.

C Dub had surprised me on Saturday with these…

So I was optimistic about how my mother’s day would go.

Pookah proceeded to tell me he was hungry.

I waited……and all I heard was a snore, or two or three.

Ok.  So I got up and fed my boy.

And my husband slept on and on.

And of course, my mother in law had neglected to buy anything other than party food so there was nothing in the house to eat but white bread….

I made toast.

I called my Mother and wished her a happy Mother’s Day. She wished me one as well and assured me she had sent me a card. ( And when I got home there was a gift too! Love HER!!)

We got ready for church( Mother in law wanted EVERYONE to go to church)

And proceeded there.  Pookah lasted through the whole service without me having to leave and take him out! Pretty good for a child who hardley ever goes to church ( fully my fault)

But anyway.

We came home.

And I waited.

I came out to the living room and C-Dub was sitting at the table stuffing his face with leftover barbecue.

Incredulous, I causally ( to most ears) said I was hungry.

He said( and I quote) “there’s one piece of chicken left.”

OOOOOKKKKAAAAY..

And then, while I’m still hot over this and waiting for SOMEONE to feed me more than the measly hot dog I found, he says he wants to stay an extra day.

I couldn’t answer at all in front of my in laws. My answer wouldn’t have been fit for company…..

So anyway, the boys( my brother in laws), debated debated and sat around and sat around until finally, my mother in law said SHE was going to McDonald’s.

That was the way I was thinking so I offered to drive.

Finally, the men folks got themselves together and wanted to go to get Chinese. Ummmm no, Pookah can’t eat anything off the menu.

They all looked at me like I was crazy.

What, you want my child not to eat because you last minute decided to go get something he is ALLERGIC to???

Finally, they decided on….Golden Corral…yep.

Thankfully, we got there and the line was out the freakin door.

Finally, they decided on a steakhouse.

Thankfully, there was something for my child to eat: Barbecue ribs and fries.

I recovered my good humor as the evening went on.

Even though my mother in law had an attitude with me(I disagreed with her decision to eat outside) dinner went well. It was even kinda good.

The night ended with an impromtu football game that was all kinds of hilarious( Pookah was the running back).

I got my photography fix, and Pookah had fun.

He went to bed, I went with him.

The end.

Do you know my mother in law didn’t wish me a happy Mother’s Day? Or my Brothers in Law? It was all about my her, all day long. She even suggested that I leave the flowers that CDub got me, down there with her………

I have no more words.

God, I hope next year is better…..

My brother in law graduated on Friday. I JUST got around to looking through the photos. I love this one of C-Dub and his brothers.

I’m off to my mother in law’s for the weekend for a graduation and Mother’s Day.

But before I go,

Two things:

Number One THIS:

*courtesy of Time Magazine*

Now. Really.

I mean REALLY Time magazine?

I understand the point was to get our attention, but DAMN!

You hear so much about the Mommy wars out there and this is just fueling the fire.

Yes, attachment parenting is a controversial thing in some circles.

Breastfeeding past the age of one is controversial in the US, let alone breastfeeding when your child is 3 years old and standing on a chair to get to your breast on the cover of a national magazine……

While I personally did not want to breastfeed past the age of 1( and Pookah put a stop to it himself at 11 months) I have no issues with women who want to.

What really really REALLY gets me is that this photo on the front cover of this magazine is deliberately provocative. They may say they are trying to start a dialogue, but based on the comments I see, this is just another battle in a long war on who is right, who is wrong, and who is a good parent and who is not.

Number Two:

I usually don’t get political or religious, but in case you DIDN’T know, I am team Obama and a Christian.

Now, I’m not one of those “I will follow behind the president in whatever he says or do” variety.

And I’m not a uber liberal Christian either.

No, I have a brain, and I use it.

There are plenty of things I disagree on with my President.

But his latest stance on gays being allowed to be married is not one of them.

Before I had gay friends, I might not have agreed. But life is an evolution, and hopefully your thoughts and beliefs are too.

I don’t believe in judging others.

PERIOD.

Oh sure, I have thoughts, I disagree, and sometimes I can’t help myself, I judge.

But I am also a Christain, so I always remember Matthew 7:

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Basically, the pot can’t call the kettle black…

What if Pookah is gay? What if he decides in the future that he wants to shout his love from the rooftop and marry? Will I cast down my own child?

I don’t think so.

But both of these topics today are issues that we have no right to judge others on. Of course, there is nothing wrong with saying you disagree with the idea of gay marriage, or that you would NEVER breastfeed a three year old.

But everyone has the right to chose what’s right for them.

Respect that.

I took this photo on Sunday at the party.
It’s just one of those photos that illustrates one of the things I love about my boy.
He is just fearless.
He just jumped right in and started feeding the animals.
He is outgoing.
He’s talkative.
He’s inquisitive.
He’s funny.
He’s silly.
He’s smart.
He’s my boy.

As I got dressed for my 3rd night shift in a row last night, he looked up and said,
“Mommy you go?”

Yes baby, I’ve got to go to work.

“Hug Mommy. I lub( love) you.”

My heart just melts of course.

And as I walk out the door, his parting shot was ” Be careful Mommy! See you morrow!!”

Big Sigh. I love that boy.

My weekend was…….

Busy.

I worked Friday night, and was exhausted all day Saturday. Pookah and his daddy went to the park in the morning and when I woke up, we went to the mall.

My boy needed shoes, and I had to drive all the way to no mans land for a Stride Rite.

Come to find out, the boy wears a size 10 and a half…double wide….. O_O.

That on top of the fact that I had to replace his WHOLE wardrobe because he jumped two sizes, I am broke broke and more broke. On the day after payday….

But moving on….

On Sunday, we made our way to a birthday party. I have about 5 friends( including me) who had babies all in the same year. We are all close still and we try to go to all the birthday parties and such. My friend had a petting zoo for the kids. On the hottest day of the year so far it seemed. But it was sooooo fun for Pookah! He looooved the animals, the fun with the kids, just running around.

Look at these cute babies…

Just makes my ovaries twitch….

But of course afterwards, I rushed to work and worked all night.

But such is life…..

For now…

I’m still working on our vacation. It seems that now, the man DOES want to go on vacation with his mother and brothers. So, I’m tasked with finding somewhere cheaper than where they are staying…in July….in Destin….pray for me.

I’m working Sunday,Monday and Tuesday this week in preparation of going out of town to Mississippi for my brother-in- laws graduation from college. So if you don’t hear from me, that’s why.

Talk to you guys later!

Project 52: Week 18

It’s been a busy week.

Kinda.

I worked. And learned a few disturbing things about a few co workers and managers. I am still trying to process it.  I can’t talk much about it because it involves litigation, but my goodness.  The things people do when backed into a corner. SMH.

And speaking of work, I’m still on night shift.   Apparently, my manager has hired three new folks.  Should I be flattered that it takes three to replace me?

I had a talk with a friend who I hadn’t seen in a minute about how I’m not dealing well with life right now.  She had been through the SAME thing but got off of nights just in time.  She gave me some advice that I’m putting into practice.  Hopefully it helps in the meantime….

I read some more…..it’s nice to read again.

I didn’t clean…..

I’m in the midst of trying to convince the husband we need a vacation. NOW. He doesn’t want to go on vacation with the in laws again, because where they want is too much. And besides, he only wants to go for 3 days.  What kind of vacation is 3 days?  I’m trying to convince him that a cruise, specifically a Disney Cruise is the answer. I contacted them and they will accommodate Pookah’s gluten free diet! All I have to do is send a Dr’s note and speak with the maitre d’  And they have built in babysitting……. #enoughsaid.

I got my plane ticket to BlogHer!  I’m so excited! That’s one more thing done on my check list.  The only things left are a bag to carry around, and a BlogHer Wardrobe…..

YIKES!

I’ve just discovered that I will be spending Mother’s Day with my Mother In Law…..

*crickets*

My thoughts on what direction I want this blog to take is coming together….just take a look at my photography blog.  Something like that only….bloggier( is that a word???)  The idea came from a reader…you know who you are….

I’m still thinking on the details.

Pookah has completely regressed in the potty training arena.  Even though I noticed this morning that he woke up with a completely dry diaper.

It’s time for potty training Boot Camp. The only question is which route to take.

AND, Pookah has finally gotten too big for me to rock to sleep.  This week, we’ve been getting him to go to sleep on his own laying down in HIS bed.  Not being rocked.  It takes about an hour for him to go on his own, but he is going.  With one of us laying on the floor by his bed….

DON’T LAUGH!!! It’s a process!!!! I figure soon, he’ll get used to it, and we’ll move to the chair…then the door, then out the door…you get the point!

Pookah has a birthday party to go to this weekend.  There is going to be a petting zoo!! Can’t wait to see his expression and to get photos!

And speaking of photos, I’ve been approached SEVERAL times in the last few weeks on taking photos of friends and their kids…..for money…..I’m scared for some reason.  I like being a hobbyist. I have NO intention of ever doing this professionally.

But on top of that, another friend of mine is putting together a spoken word event in the fall and she wants me to be the offical photographer of the event.

I’m.Not.Ready.

But when God shoves opportunities in your face, you can’t really turn them down can you?

Well, that’s all for now!

Happy Hump Day!!

Today I’m participating in the April photography contest over at Clickin it Up a Notch! I am supposed to be choosing my BEST photo from the month of April. I’m torn. I have two favorites! Which one to choose? In the end, I decided on this one because its my first time truely converting to black and white without any actions or presets or anything!

Don’t forget to go over and check out everyone’s else best photo from April!